Assjg-itob



W. H. GRIMDITCH.

BATTERY CELL SEAL.

V APPLICATION LED MAR. 4 1920.

1 4:02 599, Patented Jan. 3, 2.

1 ZSHEETS-SHE 20 3 /2 ,3 ZE /9 W. H. GRIMDITCH.

BATTERY CELL SEAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4, 92o.

Patented Jan. 3, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2! UNITE WILLEAM G-PdlVlIDI'EGH, DITE' P' PHILADELPJ? A SYLVANIA, A COBPU t-&Tlflh U [J DELEHEA, IPENMSYLT ENEA, ASSIGNOE; TO COMPANY, 035' PHILLDELPHIA, PENN- JMSYLWANIA.

RATTERY seen.

iaoaeee.

Application filed "ittareh et,

Battery-Cell Seals ot which the :'olewiu is a specification.

One object of this irventien is to nrrwide an easily made, durahle, simple and prarti cal liquidtight seal bet teen two structur of which one passes through the other` and more particular-lym between the cover ot .::z hattery cell and the terminal posts there( the invention contemplating a cons which will insure the positive and ru nection ot the parts as well as the mainte- 'nance of the correct spacin ot the ;groups of plates within the cell.

It is further desired to provide a tmttery cell seal of the class noted whose oonstruction shall be such as will ermit he 'parte being easily and quickly disconnected when the cover is to be removed and whioi hy reason of its utilizing an unthreaded 'v nal post, shall avoid the possihility oi stripping or janning` characteristic of threads in comparatively soft metale such as alloys of lead and which shall include threads of such character and *pitch and such an arrangenent of parte :is to permit of; a tighter seal being made between the cover and the post than has hitherto been rracti cal.

Another object ot my invention is to pro-- vide a seal of such Construction as will not easily become loosened even though suhjected to prolonged jarring and whose censtruction and arrangement shall be such as will not require special tools 'tor its assenbly or separation.

These objects and other advantaeeous ends I attain as hereinater set itorth, reference being had to the accompanying drawinga in which,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectiontalen 'through the terminal posts or a battery cell, illustrating my invention as applied thereto; and

Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive are tragnentary vertical sections taken through one of the terminal posts, illustrating modified terms ot the invention; these figures and Fig., l being Spccifcatien of Letters Patent.

lt atented Jan. EU 192%.

serial ne. teams.

shown with the parts asseinbled but not finally tightened. 4

in the above drawings, 1 rep esents the ;moden casing pr tray in which is inounted a oattery jar 2 OI hard rubber, cellulod or the like containing groups oi" positive and negat ve plates respectvely in electrical connection with pair ot terminal 'posts 8 and t. ;Dhe lower end portions ot'. these posts are iorned with :unular iennes 5 having fiat suhstantially horizontal :faces 'for the reception of soft rubber or equivalent graskets or paclring rinas th and it is noted that said above the :dances 2 re substantially evlindrical in form and pass through the cover 7 of the cell. i

%aid cover has a inarginal fianee 8 between which and the adjacent wall of the jar 2 a body ot scaling` compound S) is poured after the various parts have been assernbled as hereafter described and at or near its middle the cover tornierl with an aperture in which is niounted an inwardly entending sleeve 10 having; in its yells one or more o genings ll opening into the highest part of the space under the cover. in said sleeve is removably or otherwise fixed a vent plug in the shape of an eirternally flanred bushino; 12 having; a, relatively small vent opening?? 13 in its closed outer et i and provided with a pertorated disc or l" M: across its inner end. .A. suitable ossi-:et 15 is conined between its fiange and the top edge of the sleeve 10.

In accordance with my invention, each ot the openinn s provided in the cover tor the passage ot the terminal posts 3 and 4.- has mounted in it an integral sleeve 16, preferably extend ing downward and toi-med with an inwardly extending ange 17 ot such internal diameter as more or less closely fit the terminal post with which it is associated, and to extend over the ;casket or padrino; ring 6 on the fianre or gasket seat 5 oi: said post. This fiange 17 is preterably sonewhat above the lower end of the sleeve which extends around and immediately adjacent the gasket 6 so as to confine said resket against materi al later-al spreadinp; when the seal is tightened as hereinatter explained. Each of the sleeves 16 above its internal fiange 17 is internally threaded :tor the reception of an externally tlanzed threaded nut 18 iormed with an opening through which the post passes..

With the above described arrangement of parts, after the assembled plate elements have been placed in thejar 2 and the gaskets or packing rings 6 placed upon the terminal posts 3 and t, the cover 7 is placed in the position shown with said posts extendin: through the sleeve openings 16. The nuts 18 are then placed over the two terminal posts and are screwed into said sleeves as far as they will go. A lead bushing such as indicated at 19, either with or without a connector 20, is then lead-burned or otherwise connected to the projecting upper end of each of the terminal posts so that each ot these is provided with a rigidly attached projecting portion or shoulder of greater diameter than the opening through the nut 18.

The nuts 18 are then unscrewed or backcd off until they forcibly engage these shoulders or flanges with the result 'that the cover 'i' is forced downward, thus clamping and compressing each of the packin;` rings G between the flanges 5 and 17 and torming at these points liquid-proot joints between the cover 7 and the posts.

The bushing 19 is used 'or convenience in manufacturing so that all posts may be pat through alike until near the end of the process when either a Connector or terminal, such as represented at 20, may be added, or the post and bushing may be built up with molten metal by means of a mold, to form the bare terminal post 22. In some cases the bushing 19 may be omitted and the connecter or terminal 20 burned directly to the post as shown in Fig. 2, so that the nut 18, when backed off, would engage the lower rim of the connecter or terminal instead of the fiange of the bushing 19.

As a modification of the invention, the cover 7 may have connected to or 'forn'ied integral with it a Sleeve 16 projecting above its top surface and externally threadcd for the reception of an internally threaded nut 18% In this case the under side ot said cover preferably as an annnlar bead or rib 21 which will prevent the lateral spreading of the packing ring or gasket G when the nut 18 is backed off ot' the threaded slecve 16 into engagement with the connecter 20. In this case said gasket is confined between the under side of the cover andthe flange 5 onthe terminal post, and as before the backing off or unscrewing of the nut acts upon the cover to force it downwardly and insure a liquid-tght seal between it and the post.

It is to be noted that means other than the Connector or bushing may be utilized to provide a shoulder on the terminal post against which the nut 18 may be backed in order to make the required tight seal between the cover and said post, and as typical of such means, I have shown in Fig. 3 a

pin 30 removably mounted in the terminal post so as to extend transversely thereof and project over the nut 18 when this has been screwed into the cover. lVhcn thcreaiter it is desired to complete the scal, the backing oli of said nut into i'orcible engagcment with the pin ends forces the cover downwardly, and tightly comprcsscs the gasket 6 between the fiange 5 of the terminal post and the iange 17 ot the cover.

As another modification, I may cast or otherwise form the terminal post with a screw or stud 31 of brass or other suitable material, so that it projects beyond the cnd thereof, and mount on this stad a netallic or other nut 32 having a thread of opposic kind to that of the nut 18 and oi such width or external diameter as to serve as a shoulder against which the nut 18 may be baclccd in order to form the seal as above described.

In that form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, after the nut 18 has been placed on the terminal post and screwcd into the threaded recess of the cover to a suitable cxtent, I spin or otherwise mechanically 'form the metal of said post to provide a iiangc or collar 33 immediately above said nut, which, as in the other forms of my invcntion will serve as a shoulder or abinincnt against which said nut may be baclzed in order to compress the gasket 6 between the cover and the fiange of the terminal post to prevent the escape of liquid.

In all of the figures the gasket 6 is shown in the uncompressed position before the nut 18 has been backed oli' against the coactng shoulder or projection. The nut 15% may be backed oti?, to force down the covcr and compress the gasket, either before pouring the scaling compound 9 or thereai'ter while the compound is warm and plastic.

From the above description it will he noted that one advantage of my invention arises from the ease with which the seal may be appled or removed, 'for when it is desired to take oil? the cover of a cell, after the sealing` compound 9 has been removed or loosened; it is merely necessary to remove the bushings 19 and connectors 20 by drilling or fusing, in order to automatically rclease the pressnre on the gaskets (3 and per mit of the cover being lifted off of the terminal posts. Obviously no special tools are required for this operation, and under ronditions of use the nuts lS are rigidlv held, not only by reason of the friction ol' their threads with the threads of the sleeves 10, but also by reason of their :Erictional engagement with the shoulders provided by the bushings 19. There is thus little it any likelihood of their becoming looscncd even though the cell be snbjected to Continua] vibration or jarring, and owing to the fact that the terminal posts are rigidly held to the cover, the groups oi pletes ere reteined in their roper relative positions within the jar.

Moreover, owng to the ne: ths't ni ing means involves threuded structures which mode of hard ruhheor similer insuluting material, having relutively good mechanicul properties, end does not eniploy threads on the lead eiloy termnul posts, there is no danger of jununing, :Electing or stripping, which frequently occur when threuded structures of such so'ift metels us ure necesseriiy used, in the usuul type cit storage hettery having an seid electrolyte, are utilised in connection with the seeis around the terminal posts; und since it is possible, due to the and to the nature ot the muteriel used, to utilize reletivelg* fine threads in the nuts 18 and the sleeves lo in eli :forms of my invention, it is pructicable to exert much greeter pressure upon the gesl rets 0 und theretorc to muhe tighter seels or joints between the cover and the terminal posts 'than would orclinurily be possible.

l claim 1. the cou'binution ot u structure having an opening; u member passing: through seid opening` and having two shoulders; e packing ring between one of the shoulders und the structure; and a djustshle means oper ative between seid structure and the other shoulder to cause the first shoulder to cooperute with the peching ring to 'form u right oint with the structure.

2. The conihinution oi? e, structure having en opening; u meniher passing` through said opening; end having` two shoulders; e pasohing ring between one ol? the shoulders end the structure; and edjustuble means opera tive between seid structure and the other shoulder to cause the first shoulder to cooperute with the pucl ing ring to form e tight joint with the structure, the letter including en :innuler portion for continiug the piu/king ring; ugeinst spreuding.

3. The COIlblltllOIl ot e structure having un opening; e member passing therethrough i end formed with shoulders on opgosite sides ot seid structure; e ring ot puclino; between the structure end one ot seid shouiders; means ucting ljetween the st ucture und the second shoulder ;tor compressing ot will the pecking ring to muhe u tight joint; und

means tor preventng spreudiug of the patching ring; when compressed.

l. The comhineton of a structure having un opening; u member passing therethrough and having shoulders on opposite sides ot the structure; withneens operative et will between the structure and cuc oi' ne shouldcrs for iorcinp,` the structure toward tue other shoulder to form u tight joint therewith.

5. The conhinotion oi" contuiner having e cover provided with en opening; e meinher passing through seid opening end forned with shoulders on opposte sides of the cover; e paching ring between the innershoulder end 'the under side ot the cover; and means o1j)eretive :r will between the outer shoulder und the #over tor causing; the cover to couct with the putkino* ring' to :Form 21 seul with the inner houldes.

0. The comhinution of e contuinei' having u cover; u meniher pussinp` through the cover and having two shoulders respectively on oppos te sides thcreot; with nie-uns opemtive between outer shoulder id the cover ;tor :torciblv pressing the cover ut will toward tl e inncr shoulder,

l. The comhnuton of u contuincr having u cover; buttery plutes 'in :id conteiner; terminal posts resuectively comected to siti. plutes and pessing iough opcnings in the cover, seid hosts l'eving shoulders on opposite sides ot the cover, u peching ring;` on each oi" the posts between the inner shoulder u nd the cover; end mesus ecting between the second shouldr and the cover for C llPi`0F`- sing seid pecl ing ring hetween the cover and the other shoulder.

8. The comhinetion in u hettery ot e contuiner having cover provided with openings; two sets ot plotes in the contuiner; termin-ul posts respectivelv connected to seid pletes and passing through the openings in the cover, each of seid posts having shoulders respectively within the eontainer and the outside ot the some; pziclring rings on the posts between the cover end the inner shoulders thereot; with elements threeded to the cover and operative on the outer shoulders of the posts to ceuse the inner shoulders to compress the pecking rngs against the cover.

9. The combinetion in u bettery ot e contuiner having e cover provided with openings; two sets oi plutes in the conteiner; termin-el posts respectively connected to said pletes end passing through the openings in the cover, euch of said posts having shoulders respectively within the contuiner and 'the outside ot the seine; peclring rings on the posts between the cover and the inner shoulders thereot; elements threeded to the cover and operative on the outer shoulders ol? the posts tor causing the inner shoulders to compress the pucking rings against the cover; with means :tor preventing sprezding ot the pucking rings when they ere com-- pressed.

10. The combination of e conteiner hevinp; u cover provided with openings; battery pletes in seid conteiner; terminal posts respectvely connected to said plates end passing` through the openings in the rover; fienges on euch ot the posts respectively edj scent the inner and outer faces oi the cover; with ennular threaded members coeotiug with threeded portions of the cover and with the outer shoulders of the termito seid plates, and extending through the cover sleeves; shoniders on each of the posts of which one extends immediately sdjacent the flange of its sleeve and the other is adjacent the outside surface ot the cover; With e nnt thrc &ded into each sleeve in position to cooperzte With the outer shoulder oi the adjarent terminal post.

The combination of a container: :i cover therefor having openings provieed With internally thrcaded sleeves and in `-.i'tl].` extending` lianges respectively Within said sle-eres; hettery plates in the contniner; terminal posts respectively connected to solid plates and extending` through the cover sleeves; shonlclers on each of the posts ot' which one extends immediately acljacent the fiange of its sleeve and the other is adjacent the outside surface of the cover; With a nut threaded into each sleeve in position to cooperete With the enter shoulder of the adjzicent terminal post, the sleeve being extended below the fiange thereof to provide post having; :I shoulder; n cover rezded opening; :1 ;1nt e'gging t seid opening: and held against movement to nuse the unsermvthe nnt t force the cover and the passing' through the opening; ing; the threads ot the opening and engu ng n projertion on the post to cause the cover to he clmnped in position when the nut nnscrmvcd.

.o. (ill COnl having' a thicded openi g; :i shouldered post passing tln'ongh the Mining: 21 smromiding said posr; 'cti-n a nnt engnging the threads ot the opening' and engnging :i p'ojection on the post to i e t` e rashet to he chnped between the LOYG' :in the post; when the nnt is nnscrewed 16. A cell cover having; ;a threzuled openi k :1 post passing tln' n h the opcning'; :1 .nnL enggng the threads ot the opening and engnging :i projection on the post to cause the cover to he clanxped in position When the nnt is nns'fcwcd to form :L seul between the post and the cover.

WILLLU H. GHIMDITCH. 

